Uzbekistan and the Silk Road: Insider’s Guide

View over the mausoleums and domes of the historical cemetery of Shahi Zinda through an arched gate, Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo: Shutterstock

The insider advice on this page is from Wendy’s Trusted Travel Expert for Central Asia and the Silk Road: Zulya Rajabova of Silk Road Treasure Tours.

Trusted Travel Expert

Zulya Rajabova

Zulya grew up in Uzbekistan (her hometown, Bukhara, is one of the legendary cities of the Silk Road trading route) and returns often to visit her large and charismatic family—the same family that her travelers are often lucky enough to meet. Since Zulya has had a home in the U.S. since 2003, she fully understands what sophisticated Americans want to see and do amid the stunning landscapes and ancient sites of Central Asia (including all five “Stans”), and she can also address any and all safety concerns they might have. Her expertise with languages (in addition to Uzbeki and English, Zulya speaks German, Russian, and Farsi) set her on a path in tourism: She started out as a private guide for journalists, diplomats, and heads of state visiting Uzbekistan. Her personal contacts at museums, exhibition sites, and performance companies translate to exclusive access for her clients, and the encounters that she orchestrates with artisans and businesspeople help bring alive aspects of the culture both ancient and contemporary. To make sure that every trip lives up to her savvy travelers’ standards, Zulya not only arranges for superlative guides and comfortable hotels and homestays but also handles the potential logistical hurdles of travel to this region, such as border crossings and visa procurement.

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Best bang-for-your-buck hotelsThe Lotte Tashkent Palace is four-star comfort and service. It has a wonderful location, opposite the Alisher Navoi theater and a gorgeous fountain, and is only a few blocks from the metro, the Tashkent Gallery of Modern Art, the biggest souvenir shops, and Independence Square. The hotel has a brand-new pool and recently renovated rooms (the most spacious you’ll find in Tashkent) with comfortable beds; request one at the back of the hotel, as the sound and light show at the fountain out front can be an annoyance to some. My clients get early check-in, late checkout, and upgrades for a special occasion.

The 5-star Hyatt Regency in Tashkent is luxury on a world-class scale, good for both leisure and business travel.

They Hyatt Regency Tashkent works for business travelers as well as leisure travelers. Photo: Hyatt

Restaurants the locals loveHead to the Tashkent Caravan for Uzbek décor and traditional menus, and April Verdant for the lovely setting and wide international menu—including even vegetarian options.

In Samarkand, go to Osh Markazi for great Samarkand-style plov (the national dish of Uzbekistan, a savory mix of meat, vegetables, and rice) and go to Platan for shurpa: a hearty soup made with meat, large noodles, and fresh vegetables. Platan has both a traditional dining room and a fabulous rooftop terrace.

Meal worth the splurgeTake a table at Labi Khaus Restaurant, in the heart of old Bukhara, beside an ancient pool surrounded by 14th-century mulberry trees. Order either the shurpa or the shashlik (they serve meat, chicken, fish, and veggie versions of this shish kebab), and a cup of the special Silk Road tea with local spices.

Don’t missThe mud fortresses at Ayaz Kala, in the Karakalpak region, are a truly fascinating, inexpensive destination. Travelers can explore archaeological treasures from the fourth century B.C., ride camels, and overnight in a yurt (where they’ll be treated to a performance of traditional desert music under the stars). Easily accessible from Ayaz Kala is the world-class Savitsky Collection of “forbidden” Russian avant-garde art; the story connected to this museum is a terrific tale of one man’s secret mission against Soviet-style repression.

Stopping for tea at a chaikana, or Central Asian teahouse, in Bukhara’s Labi Khaus complex, where several seventeenth-century madrassas surround a long, rectangular pond. Shaded by 500-year-old mulberry trees, it’s a relaxing spot in a busy city, a traditional tea market and meeting place for friends. Ask any of the locals to recount one of the humorous stories of Khodga Nasreddin, a 13th-century philosopher who disguised his moral lessons in amusing anecdotes; his statue is nearby.

A silk factory shop in Uzbekistan. Photo: Silk Road Treasure Tours

Bragging rightsUzbekistan is a hot destination for fashion and interior designers, drawn by the gorgeous fabrics, detailed workmanship, and traditional designs in cotton, silk, and embroidery. We can introduce you to local fashion designers, textile experts, and jewelry makers, and you can get fabulous custom-embroidered and ikat clothing made.

DowntimeIn Tashkent: Alisher Navoi National Park. This man-made park is an oasis of green with ornamental gardens, a lake, canals, cafés, plazas, and fountains. Head to the fountains behind the Palace of People’s Friendship, where you’ll find the Abul Kasim Madrassah, which now houses artisans’ workshops. There’s a nice view of the lake and the bright blue dome of the Uzbek parliament, and on Saturdays the nearby Navruz wedding house hosts many such celebrations.

In Bukhara: Mokhi Hossa Summer Palace (the Palace of Moon and Stars). Located in the countryside just outside the city, this palace was once the summer residence of the Emir of Bukhara; it’s a beautiful, peaceful spot for a quiet picnic surrounded by early-twentieth-century buildings and gardens that reveal both Asian and Russian influences.

A perfect day
Visit the bazaars and the hammam in Bukhara. The historic center’s old trade domes (covered bazaars) are bursting at the seams with food, spices, fabrics, handicrafts, and souvenirs, most produced locally. They’re busiest and most colorful on Sundays, Thursdays, and during the Silk and Spice Festival in May. My favorite is the Toki Zargaron trade dome, where you can find fabulous jewelry, the best embroidery and silk items, and even carpets. Afterward, stop for tea and perhaps lunch at the chaikana of the Labi Khaus complex (see “Don’t miss,” above). Then make the short walk to the city’s hammam, or Turkish bath, for your massage (best to book ahead); the well-preserved stone domes and corridors here date from the 16th century. Relax and reenergize in the hot and cold baths and enjoy the tasty local ginger tea.

Need to get outdoors? Head to Lake Charvak, just outside of Tashkent, for some boating or swimming. Further afield, Mount Chimgan has cool summer temperatures, hiking, and charming rural villages. In late spring and summer, take the old Soviet chair lift up with the local grannies for a picnic, or stop for coffee at the Beldersay hotel.

Best Times to Go

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in Uzbekistan. In May, especially, the weather is pleasant; travelers can access rural alpine villages and lakesides, overnight comfortably in a yurt, and go hiking, camel-riding, and white-water kayaking. There are also lots of popular festivals in spring (including a number of music events, the silk-and-spice festival, and the tulip festival), and weddings—our clients are always welcome at my extended family’s weddings, as well as those of my team on the ground. There are often upwards of 300 guests at an Uzbek wedding, and friends of friends or family are always welcome.

The second-best time is in September. After the summer heat, the weather is once again comfortable for touring the ancient cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva, and for hiking in the mountains or camel riding in the Kizil Kum Desert.

Worst Time to Go

December and January, definitely! With freezing air coming in across the steppes, temperatures can reach well below zero. There is snow in the upper elevations, making it difficult to access some sites, and photographic equipment may need protection from the cold—as will travelers!

Biggest Rookie Mistakes

Shopping in a hurry. Silk Road destinations have always been centers of trade. It’s a paradise for shoppers, and visiting the bazaars and shops in Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva is exciting. Handicrafts, art, silk scarves, Bukhara carpets, and Uzbek textiles and jewelry are on offer everywhere. There is much to choose from, so take your time browsing all the options.

Rushing the journey. While there are flights and high-speed trains between many cities, travel by road can be really rewarding (albeit bumpy) for getting to the less accessible cultural, architectural, and archaeological treasures. Along the way, you can stop in rural villages and special tea chaikanas, ancient towns such as Jizzakh, and Gijduvan, and local bazaars that only appear on certain days of the week—all of which offer amazing photo opportunities.

Exchanging too much money ahead of time. There may be no opportunities to exchange it back after you’ve left the country (and where you can change it back, you’ll need your receipts from the original transaction). Bring new paper currency. Credit cards are now widely accepted in the larger cities and at higher-end hotels and restaurants. This change—and the introduction of the 50,000 Som note—makes carrying large stacks of cash unnecessary.

The Souvenir

Textiles—silk scarves and brilliantly colored Ikat-patterned fabric especially. One of the most surprising handcrafts is “suzani,” the bold, heavy embroidery on rich fabric, often in gold and silver.

Must-Have Apps

Telegram, Imo, and Viber allow to you make video calls and chats over Wi-Fi, which is becoming faster and more abundant. Cell use is fairly universal in Uzbekistan, but not always accessible in remote areas.

A currency converter with live currency rates is essential; this will help with the difference between the Uzbek som and your own currency; many of the best ones are free.

Tipping Tip

Tipping is customary in Uzbekistan; at restaurants, leave about 10 percent for your waiter.

Don't Forget to Pack

Coffee or tea. Uzbekistan is a nation of tea drinkers, and coffee is not available everywhere. The green teas here are refreshing and worth trying, but bring your own if you prefer black or herbal varieties.

Airport Intel

Tashkent’s newly opened and upgraded international arrival terminal has shortened wait times. New e-visas and five-day transit visas make it easier for U.S. and Canadian travelers to enter Uzbekistan; apply online before your trip.

Instagram Moments

The ancient city of Khiva is magical at night. The important architectural gems are all artfully lit, the adobe walls radiate warmth from the day’s sun, and the moon and stars shine brilliantly above the minarets in superclear skies. Get your shot from near the Kalta Minor or Islam Khodja minarets.

The Klayan minaret, part of the Poi-Kalon complex in Bukhara, is known as the “lighthouse of the desert.” Here, the tallest minaret in Central Asia soars up through azure skies. Come at sunrise or sunset for the best light playing on the complex’s adobe walls, cut-away facades, and blue domes.

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